A new study conducted by the American College of Radiology Imaging
Network (ACRIN(r)) and the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) is now
underway to evaluate the ability of positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) with Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET/CT) and
MRI with the contrast agent Combidex (ferumoxtran-10) to identify pelvic
and abdominal lymph node metastases in patients with locoregionally
advanced cervical cancer.

According to study investigators, FDG-PET/CT and Combidex MRI offer
promise for finding cancers that may presently go undiagnosed.
"Currently, we try to diagnose lymph node metastases by size. This
method has low specificity and low sensitivity," said ACRIN
principal investigator for the trial, Mostafa Atri, M.D., of the
University Health Network/Mount Sinai Hospital at the University of
Toronto, Canada. "MRI with Combidex works differently. The contrast
agent is absorbed by normal nodes, but not by the component of lymph
node infiltrated by cancer. We see the cancer as defects in the lymph
node. For PET, metastases appear as increased activity."

Approximately 10 ACRIN-approved sites will work in collaboration
with a GOG member institution to accrue 325 participants within three
years. All participants will undergo lymph node sampling to determine
the accuracy of the imaging exams. Michael Gold, MD, of the University
of Oklahoma, is the GOG study chair.

"Both imaging modalities can also be used with other cancers.
Knowing the involvement of lymph nodes is important for the treatment of
all cancer patients. If this study shows these modalities work for
cervical cancer in a multicenter trial, it could lead to future research
that would benefit many different cancer patients," said Atri.

Please visit www.acrin.org/6671_protocol.html for more information
on this trial.

The American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) is a
National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Cooperative Group. It is made
up of investigators from over 100 academic and community-based medical
facilities in the United States and several international institutions.
ACRIN's mission is to develop information, through clinical trials
of diagnostic imaging and image-guided therapeutic procedures, that will
result in: 1) the earlier diagnosis of cancer, 2) allaying the concerns
of those who do not have cancer, and 3) improved quality and increased
length of life for cancer patients.

For more information, visit http://www.acrin.org or call
703/648-8936 or 800/227-5463, ext. 4936.

The American College of Radiology (ACR) is a national professional
organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic radiologists, radiation
oncologists, interventional radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians
and medical physicists, with programs focusing on the practice of
radiology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

For more information, visit http://www.acr.org.

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